Web-tension-controlling mechanism.



I. A. HUNTING.

WEB TENSION CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

is, r ijwuewto c I. A HUNTING.

WEB TENSION CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 1, 1910.

1,1 03,143 Patented July 14, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

37513 6 tie 014M y TED SATS Pa ravinen. .HUNTING, or PLAINFIELD, NnwJEiasnY, ASSIGZNOB r0 WILLIS s. MORSE,

or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA-Q.

WEB-TENSIONCONTBOLLING MECHANISM,

aromas.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, ieia.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, IRVING A. HUNTING, acitizen of the United States, residing at Plainfield, in the county of IUnion and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Web-Tensiomfiontrolling Mechanism, of which the followinis aspecificatiomreference being had to t e accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for controlling thetension of a Web or continuous sheet or strip of material, such as paperor textile fabric; and an object of this invention is to provide amechanism of the character just described which will beelectrically-operated, which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, which may be readily applied to machines (such as printingpresses) now in common use, which will be quick in action and eflic ientin operation and the initial cost of which will be relatively low.

' In the drawings illustrating the principle of this invention and thebest mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is aside-elevation of so much of a Web-tension controlling mechanism as isnecessary to illustrate this invention; Fig. 2 is a detail whichillustrates in side elevation the brakeavheel, the brake-shoes and theparts carried by the latter for controlling the ressure on thebrake-wheel; Fig. 3 is a view coking in the direction of the arrow A inFig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail showing the devices for swinging theswitch-arm and is a section on the line BB of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is adiagrammatic View of the electrical connections.

The upright or standard (1 supports one end of the roll-holding shaft 1)the other end of which is supported in an entirely similar manner by anopposite standard (not shown). U on one end of the shaft" 6 is mounted ariction-pulley or brake-wheel 0 formed with a peripheral orcircnimferentia] groove (1 in its rim-face. Mounted in the standard a isa screw-stud e the threads f of which are engaged by the threads formedon the interior Wall of a bushing or sleeve 9. On one end of the latteris formed a flange or integral collar It and on its other end it carriesa hand-wheel Between the inner end of the latter and the flange /b arepivotally mounted the lower ends of the brakeshoes j, in. By turningthe'hand-wheel '5 the latter may be adjusted laterally along thescrew-stud e. In the upper end of the brake-shoe k, is formedajournal-bearing Ia for the flexible shaft m, on the threaded end m ofwhich is mounted the nut n and on the other end of which is mounted awormwheel 0. The inner faces of the brake-shoes j, I: enter the groove03 in the face of the brake-wheel c and bear against the walls of thegroove. On the brake-shoe k is mounted an electric motor -;0 on one endof the armature-shaft g of which is mounted a worm 1' which meshes witha worm-wheel s on the lower end of the upright shaft t which is mountedrotatably in the journal-box u carried by the brake-shoe in On the upperend of the shaft t is mounted a worm 4) which meshes with the worm-wheel0 carried by the flexible shaft m. Obviously rotation of thearmature-shaft 9 will cause rotation of the latter shaft and thebrake-shoes j '70 will be brought closer together or will fall apart attheir upper ends, depending upon roll 20 of material (as paper to beprinted) and from this roll w extends or is led a web m. The latterbreaks over the, idler-rolls y, .2 in its passage to the printingdevices (not shown). The upper idler-roll y is mounted free to turn on arock-shaft 2 one end of which is supported rotatably in a post 3 whichrises from the horizontal frame-memher or beam 4:. To the'rock-shaft 2is fastened a rocker-arm 5 the free end of which carries one end of theshaft 6 on which turns the other idler-roll a. It is thought unnecessaryto illustrate the mounting of the opposite end. of the shaft 6, since itis the same as that of the end herein shown and just described; and thesame is true of the other end of the rock-shaft 2. As is shown in Fig.4, an end of the latter projects beyond thepost 3 and on this projectingend is-fastened a switch-arm 7. to the upper end of which is pivotallyfastened one end of a rod the direction of rotation of the armaturev theinteriorly-threaded bracket fastened connectedwith each other.

to the upright or standard a. Near its pivoted end the rod 8 is formedwith a shoul- 161 11 against which presses one end of a coil-spring 12mounted on'the. rod 8. The other end'of this coil spring bears againstthe inner end of the threaded bushing 9 by which the tension of thespring may be adjusted. This tension tends to throw the upper end of theswitch-arm 7 to the right in Figs. 1 and 5. On the beam 4 is mountedaslab of marble or slate 13 (any suitable insulating material maybetu'sed) on which is arranged a series of'contactblocks 14: over whichare arranged to rub a pair of brushes 15 carried by the lower end of theswitch-arm 7 and suitably insulated from each other. Current from themains 16 is led to the field coils 17 of the motor 2 (Fig. 5) and,through the brushes 15 and the contact-blocks 14 and the connectionsshown, to thearmature 72'. The terminals of an electric glow-lamp 18 areconnected to the end-blocks 19 of the series 14: and to the 'blocks' 20adjacent to the central block 21.

To the latter is connected a terminal of the electric glow-lamp 18 theother terminal of which is connected to the contact-block 22 which liesbetween one of the end-blocks 19 and one of the blocks 20. One of thearmature brushes '23 is connected to the central block 21, while theother armature brush is connected to the block 22' which lies betweenthe other end-block 19 and the other block 20. The blocks 22, 22' areelectrically This arrangement of the glow-lamps 18, 18" serves toprevent sparking, as the switch-arm is thrown to shift the brushes 15from one block to another of the series 14, the lamp 18' serving torelieve the inductive discharge of the armature coil andthe lamp 18serving to relieve the inductive discharge of the line. When the tensionof the web is normal, the switch-arm 7 is in the neutral position shownin Figs. 1 and 5. When the tension of the web increases or rises abovethe normal tension, the lower end of. the switch-arm 7 is thrown to theright in Figs. 1 and 5 and current will flow through the armature p.When the tension of the web falls below the normal, the coil-spring 12throws the lower end of the switch-arm 7 to the left in these figuresand current flows in the opposite direction through the armature 72.Thus, the tension of the web is made through an electrically-operateddevice to regulate itself, the direction of rotation of the {armatureshaft q controlling the pressure of the brake-shoes j, is against thebrake-wheel 0 and thereby the tension of the web on. Should the latterbreak, the switcharm will'be thrown to its extreme position on the leftof Figs. 1 and 5 and the lefthand brush 15 will rest on the left-handblock 19; while should the working of the apparatus become so abnormalas to throw the switch-arm to its extreme position on the right of thefigures just named, the righthand brush 15 will rest on the right-handblock 19 When the switch-arm is thrown into either of these extremepositions, the circuitis broken and, therefore, the current s varied.Moreover, when the switch-arm is thrown to one side of a vertical linethrough the center of the central block 21. and then to the other sideof that vertical l1ne, the direction of the current is changed.

I claim: 1. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supportingshaft from which the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotationof said shaft and thereby increasing the tension of the web;electrically operated mechanism arranged to operate said devices; andmeans for varying the current which drives said mechanism, said means beng mounted free to move in responseto variations in the tension ofthe'web.

2. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supporting shaft fromwhich the web is pulled; devices for retarding'the rotation of saidshaft and thereby increasing 95 the tension ofthe web; electricallyoperated mechanism arranged to operate said devices; and means forreversing the direction of the current which drives said mechanism andthereby the direction of move- 100 mentof the latter, said means beingmounted free to move in response to variations in the tension of the weband being automatically operated by the tension of the web to controlthe supply of current-to said mecha- 105 nism.

3. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supporting shaft fromwhich the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotation ofsaid shaftand thereby increasing the tension of the web; electrically operatedmechanism arranged to operate said devices; a shaft arranged to rock inresponse to variations in the tension of the web and automaticallyoperated by the tension of the web; and an electrical makeand-breakdevice connected with said mechanism and controlled by the rocking ofsaid shaft to control the supply of current to said mechanism.

4. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supporting shaft fromwhich the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotation of'saidshaft and thereby increasing the tension of the web; electricallyoperated 125 mechanism arranged to operate said devices; an electricalmake-and-break device electricallv connected with said mechanismv forcontrolling the supply of current thereto; and means automaticallyoperated by the V1 0 moans tension of the web and mounted free to movein response to variations therein for actuating said make-and-breakdevice.

5. A web-tension controller having a {P0- tary roll-supporting shaftfrom which the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotation of saidshaft and thereby increasing the tension of theweb; electricallyoperated mechanism arranged to operate said devices and carried by oneof the latter; and means for varying the current which drives saidmechanism, said means being automatically operated by the tension of theweb and being mounted free to move in response 'to variations therein.

6. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supporting shaft fromwhich the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotation of saidshaft and thereby increasing the tension of the web; electricallyoperated mechanism arranged to operate said devices; means for varyingthe current which drives said mechanism, said means being automaticallyoperated by the tension of the web and being mounted free to move inresponse to variations therein; and devices arranged to prevent sparkingat said means, when the current is varied. v

-7. A web-tension controller having a rotary roll-supporting shaft fromwhich the web is pulled; devices for retarding the rotation of saidshaft and thereby increasing the tension of the web; electricallyoperatedmechanism arranged to operate said devices; means for varyingthe current which drives said mechanism; and a web-support which isconnected with said means and which moves in response to variations inthe tension of the web and is automatically operated by the same toactuate said means and control said devices to preserve a constanttension on the web.

8. A web-tension cont-roller having a rotary'roll-supporting shaft fromwhlch the web is pulled and which is rotated by the tension of the web;devices for retarding the rotation of said shaft and thereby increasingthe tension of the web; mechanism for throwing said devices into and putof operation to vary the retarding action thereof an electric motor fordriving said mechanism; a switch for varying the lntenslty and directionof the current suppl1ed to said motor; and a web-support over wh ch theweb breaks and which is connected w th said switch and moves in responseto variations in the tension of the web and is auto-v matically operatedby the same to actuate said switch and control said devices to preservea constant tension on the web.

9. The combinatiom'in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a web-supply-roll shaft and a guide or compensating roll, ofa movable member mounted to be acted on-by the web after thesame passesthe guide'or compensating roll and free to respond to variations in thetension actuated by said movable member, means for retarding orpermitting acceleration of the web-supply-roll shaft, and mechanismincluding an electric motor operabl ind e? pendently oftheweb-sup'ply-roll shaft and controlled by variations inthe tension of theweb above or below normal for varying the action of said retarding meansin accordance with variations in the position of said movable member.

I 10. The combination, in a tension regulator for-printing presses andthe like having a web-supply-roll shaft and a guide or compensatingroll, of a movable member bearing on the web beyondthe compensating rolland free to respond to variations invthetension of the web, mechanismincluding an electric motor operable independently of theweb-supply-roll shaft, and brake mechanism connected thereto forretarding orpermitting acceleration of the rotation of thewebsupply-roll shaft, a controller in circuit with said electric motorfor controlling the action of the same, and means for operating saidcontroller by the movable member, said means occupying its neutral ornormal position onthe controller when the-web is under proper workingtension and movable out of said position to actuate the motor inresponse to changes in the tension of said web. 11. The combination, ina tension regulator for printing presses and the like having awebsupply-roll shaft and a guide'or coinpensating roll, of a brakingstructure connected to the web-supply-roll shaft, a brake shoe operativethereon, an electric motor op erable independently of the'web-supplyrollshaft, means for op'eratively connecting said the pressure exerted bysaid shoe upon the braking structure, a controll'er in circuit with saidmotor, and a movably-mounted of said web, an electric current controllerelectric motor with the brake shoe to vary I aio member bearing upon theweb beyond the compensating or guide roll and having a part movable oversaid controller and arranged to be actuated bythe tension of the webpassing through the press for operating said controller, said last-namedpart occupying a neutral or normal position while the web is underproper working tension, and movable out of said position to actuate themotor in response to variations in the tension of the web.

12. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a compensating or guide roll, of a shaft for supporting aroll of paper, a braking structure thereon, a brake -shoe operative onsaid structure, a lever operatively connected with tion of said nut tooperate the lever, and

an electric motor for operating said screw v shaft, a controller incircuit with said motor, and a pivotally-mounted structure having onepart supported by the web in the press beyond the compensating or guideroll and having another part operable over the said controller, thelast-named part of the structure occupying a neutral or normal positionon said controller while the of a plurality of rolls beyond thesame'over.

' which the web passes from the supply-roll, I one of said rolls being acompensating roll,

a tension regulator comprising two arms turnable in unison about acommon axis, one of said arms resting 'on the web beyond saidcompensating roll and being sensitive to and responsive to variations inthe tension of the web, an electric controller located in operativerelation to the other of said arms, said last-named arm occupying aneutral or nor mal position on the controller so long as the web isunder proper working tension and automatically responding to themovement of the companion arm by either an increase or decrease in thetension of the web, and an electric motor in circuit with saidcontroller inoperative or inactive while the secondfrom in one named armis in th said position but instantly rendered operative or active whensaid arm is moved'in either direction therefrom, a brake mechanism forthe web-supply-roll shaft and operating means therefor controlled bysaid motor.

14. In a tension regulator for printing presses having a web-supply-rollshaft and a plurality of rolls uniting the same over which the webpasses, one of said secondnamed rolls being a compensating roll, saidregulator including a rockable lever mechanism having one portionsupported on the edit with the current controller and inactive orinoperative so long as the lever mechanism is in said position, butenergized and rendered operative or active when the lever mechanism isactuated relativel to the current controller by a change in t e tensionof the web, a braklng mechanism for the sup ply-roll shaft and meansconnecting the motor with the braking mechanism operating to increase orreduce pressure on the websup ly-roll shaft in response to changes inthe tension of the web.

15. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a compensating or guide roll, of a movable member having itsfree 'end supported on the web beyond the compensating roll and madesensitive and responsive to variations in the tension of said web, acurrent controller, a member connected to and responding in unison withfluctuations of said member, the latter occupying a neutral or normalposition on the current controller so long as the web is under properworking tension and movable either side of said position in response toweb-tension changes, means for retarding or permitting increase in thespeed of' rotation of the roll from which the web is supplied, andmechanism including a normally inactive or inoperative electric motoroperable independently of the web-supply-roll shaft in circuit with thecurrent controller and made active and quickly responsive to themovement of said pivoted member in either direction from its normal orneutral position for varying the retardation caused by said means inaccordancp with variations in the tension of the we 16. In a tensionregulator for printing pressesand the like having a compensating orguide roll over which the web passes, the combination with theweb-supply-roll shaft and braking mechanism therefor, of mechanisminterposed between the web and braking mechanism for automaticallycontrolling thetension of'ethe web, said mechanism comprising anelectric motor operable independently of the web shaft, a pivoted leverhaving one end supported on the web beyond the compensating roll, saidlever being sensitive and responsive to variations in the tension of theweb, an arm movable by the lever, a current controller over which thearm is movable in either direction from its neutral or normal positionwhereby the motor is energized in quick response to variations in thetension of the web, said arm occupying the neutral or normal position onthe controller and the motor bein inactive or inoperative when the webis un er proper working tension, and connections between the motor andthe braking mechanism controlled by the former and in turn retarding orpermitting acceleration of the tension of the supply roll.

17. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a web-s'upply-roll, of a movable member mounted to be actedon by the web and free to respond to variations in the tension of saidweb, an electric current controller actuated by said movable member,means for retarding the web-supply-roll shaft, and mechanism includingan electric motor operable independently of the web-supply-roll shaftand controlled by variations in the tension of the web above or belownormal for varying the action of said retarding means in accordance withvariations in the position 0 said movable member.

18. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a web-supply-roll shaft, of a movable member bearing on theweb and free to respond to variations in the tension of the web,mechanism including an electric motor operable independently of theweb-supplyroll shaft, and brake mechanism connected thereto forretard-ing the rotation of the web-supply-roll shaft, a controller incircuit with said electric motor for controlling the action of the same,and means for operating said controller by the movable member, saidmeans normally occupying its neutral position on the controller when theweb is under proper working tension and movable out of said position toactuate the motor in response to changes in the tension of said web.

19. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike having a web-supply-roll shaft, of a braking structure connected tothe web-supply-roll shaft, a brake'shoe operative thereon, an electricmotor operable independently of the web-supply-roll shaft, means foroperatively connecting said electric motor with the brake shoe to varythe pressure exerted by said shoe upon the braking structure, acontroller in circuit with said motor, and a movablymounted memberbearing upon the web and having a part movable over said controller andarranged to be actuated by the tension of the web passing through thepress for operating said controller, said last-named part of thecontroller occupying a neutral or normal position while the web is underproper working tension, and movable out of said position to actuate themotor in response to variations in the tension of the web.

20. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing presses and thelike, of a shaft for supporting a roll of paper, a braking structurethereon, a brake shoe operative on said structure, a lever operativelyconnected with said shoe, a movable nut connected with said lever, ascrew shaft for changing the position of said nut to operate the lever,and an electric motor for operating said screw shaft, a controller incircuit with said motor, and a pivotally-mounted structure having onepart supported by the web in the press and having another part operableover the said controller, the last: named part of the structureoccupying a neu-. tral or normal position on said controller while theweb is under proper working tension and movable out of said .position tocause the motor in circuit to respond to a variation in the tension ofthe web;

21. In a printing press and the like having a web-supply-rollshaft,atension regulator comprising two arms turnable in unison about a commonaxis, one of said arms resting on the web and being sensitive andresponsive to variations in the tension of the web, an electriccontroller located in operative relation to the other of said arms, saidlast-named arm occupying a neutral or norweb is under proper workingtension and automatically responding to the movement of the companionarm by either an increase or decrease in the tension of the web, and anelectric motor in circuit with said controller inoperative or inactivewhile the secondnamed arm is in the said position but instantly renderedoperative or active when said arm is moved 1n either directiontherefrom, a brake mechanism for the web-supply-roll shaft and operatingmeans therefor controlled by said motor. v

22. A tension regulator for printing presses having a web-supply-rollshaft, said regulator including a rockable lever mechanism having oneportion supported on the web and being sensitive and responsive tovariations in the tension thereof, a current controller, said levermechanism having a part maintained in neutral or normal positionrelative to the current controller while the web is under proper workingtension and movable therefrom in onedirection or the other in responseto variations in the tension of the web passing against the otherportion of the lever mechanism, an electric motoroperable independentlyof the web-supply-roll shaft in'circuit with the current controller andinactive or inoperative so long as the lever mechanism is in saidposition, but energized and rendered operative or active when the levermechanism is actuated relatively to the current controller by a changein the tension of the web, a braking mechanism for the web-supply-rollshaft and means connecting the motor with the braking mechanismoperating to increase or reduce pressure on the Web-supply-roll shaft inresponse to changes in the tension of the web.

23. The combination, in a tension regulator for printing resses and thelike, of a movable member having its free end supported on the web andmade sensitive and responsive to variations in the tension of said web,a current controller, a member connected to and responding in unisonwith fluctuations of said member, the latter occupying a neutral ornormal position on the current controller so long as the web is underproper working tension and movable either side of said position inresponse to mal position on the controller so long as the web-tensionchanges, means 'for retarding the speed of rotation of the roll fromwhich the Web is'supplied, and mechanism including anorm'allyinactive orinoperative electrio motor operable independently of the web-supply-rollshaft in circuit with the current controller and made active and quicklyresponsive to the movement of said pivoted member in either directionfrom its normal or neutral osition for varying thei retardation cau bysaid means in accordance with variations in the tension of the web.

'24. In a tension regulator for printing pressesiand the like, thecombination with the web-supply-roll' shaft and braking mechanismtherefor, of mechanism interposed betweena the'web and braking mechanismfor automatically controlling thetension of the 'web,' said mechanismcomprising an electric 'motor operable independently of the web-supplyroll shaft, :1 pivoted lever havin one .erid supported on the web, saidlever being sensitiveand responsive to variations inthe tension ofthe'web,' an arm movable by the lever,'acurrent controller over whichthe arm is movable in either direction from itslneutral or normalposition whereby the motor is energized in '-quick responeeto variationsin the tension of the web, said arm occupying the neutral or normalposition on the controller and the motor being inactive or inoperativewhen the web is under roper working tension, and connections tween themotor and the braking mechanism controlled by the former and in turnretarding the tension of the supply roll.

25. In a tension regulator for a rinting press or the like,- thecombination of a webroll shaft, a member movable in response to changesin the tension of the web, mechanlsmincluding an eiectric device forcausing variations in the retardation exerted on said roll-shaft inaccordance with changes in the" tension of the web, and anelectriccontroller in. circuit with I said electric device and actuated by saidmovable member to cause the operationof-said mechanism in accordancewithchanges in the tension oftheweb.

'In testimony-whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of thetWoundersigned witnesses,'this 23d;-day of Augnst,1910, at Plainfield, N;J.

h IRVING A. HUNTING-Q Witnesses:

JNo. P.'Mnms, WMM. STILLMAN,

